Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1579

c8.1579

NIṢKA. One palam (about one-sixth of a pound) of gold. (Manusmṛti, Chapter 8). NIṢKṚTI. An agni (fire). A son of Bṛhaspati, he came to be known as Niṣkṛti as he redeemed (Niṣkrama) people from unhappiness. (Vana Parva, Chapter 229, Verse 14). NIṢKUMBHA. A great asura. A dependant of the asura called Vṛṣaparvan, Niṣkumbha, took part in many Devāsura wars. (Bhaviṣya Parva, Chapter 59). NIṢKUṬA. An ancient region in India. The people of the region were defeated once by Arjuna. (Sabhā Parva Chapter 27, Verse 12). NIṢKUṬIKĀ. A female attendant of Subrahmaṇya. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 46, Verse 12). NIṢṬĀNAKA. A prominent nāga (serpent) begot by Kaśyapaprajāpati of his wife Kadrū. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 9). NIṢTHURAKA. A very prominent King, who lived in ancient times in South India. Once he had to depend on Śridatta, a King of North India. (See under Śridatta). NIṢṬHŪRIKĀ. A nāga born in the Kaśyapa dynasty. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 106, Verse 12). NIṢUMBHA I. An asura. Two of the sons of Kaśyapa Prajāpati by his wife Diti became notorious fellows called Śumbha and Niśumbha. They were born and brought up in Pātāla. But as young men they came to the earth and began rigorous tapas taking neither food nor drink. After ten thousand years Brahmā appeared and asked them to choose their boons. They requested for eternity, deathlessness. But, Brahmā refused to grant that boon. Then they thought of another boon, which would in effect be as goodas the first one; they wanted death to come, but to come in a manner impossible to happen. So, they requested Brahmā as follows : "We shall not meet with death at the hands of males among Devas, human beings as also by birds, animals etc. In short we should be killed only by women; we fear them not."